Ed. Note: A huge thanks to Benny for coming out of blogging retirement to pen this week's Know Your Foe. He blew off rescheduled a lot of work at the office the last couple of days in order to put in the time to get KYF finished by today.
The Michigan Wolverines open their 133rd season this Saturday NIGHT! So which directional Michigan school are they going to wax in the Big House? Wait a minute, they're playing Alabama? In a professional team's stadium in Texas? In a made-for-TV showcase? How 21st Century. I don't know that Bo would approve, but it's great to see Michigan playing in games like this. And though the Crimson Tide have never before appeared on the Michigan regular-season schedule, the teams have faced each other three times, including the day after that whole Y2K fiasco. You might not remember back that far so you're probably wondering, who are these Alabamians and what should we know about them? To answer these and many other questions, the MZone is proud to present this year's special season-opening edition of KNOW YOUR FOE.
The Michigan Wolverines open their 133rd season this Saturday NIGHT! So which directional Michigan school are they going to wax in the Big House? Wait a minute, they're playing Alabama? In a professional team's stadium in Texas? In a made-for-TV showcase? How 21st Century. I don't know that Bo would approve, but it's great to see Michigan playing in games like this. And though the Crimson Tide have never before appeared on the Michigan regular-season schedule, the teams have faced each other three times, including the day after that whole Y2K fiasco. You might not remember back that far so you're probably wondering, who are these Alabamians and what should we know about them? To answer these and many other questions, the MZone is proud to present this year's special season-opening edition of KNOW YOUR FOE.
History – The University of Alabama (UA) was founded in 1831
and is the oldest and largest university in the state (take that Auburn and,
uh, UAB!). It's formation actually dates back to 1818 when the federal
government authorized the then Alabama territory to set aside land for a
"seminary of learning." When Alabama became a state two years later, additional land was set aside. A mere 41 years later the state joined in a fight
against that very same federal government. The campus design was influenced by
the University of Virginia and featured a dome Rotunda in the center. It
officially opened as "The University of the State of Alabama" on
April 18, 1831, which seems late in the school year to start a university.

Much like the rest of the South, the middle of the 20th Century saw the issue of civil rights and integration come to the Alabama
campus. The first attempt at integration came in 1956 when Autherine Lucy was
admitted to the school (thanks to a court order), but then was suspended and
expelled three days later as the university claimed it could not provide a safe
learning environment for her. Successful integration finally came six years later when
Vivian Malone and James Hood registered for classes in June of 1963. Then
governor George Wallace made his infamous "Stand in the Schoolhouse
Door" in an attempt to stop their enrollment, only stepping aside when
confronted by federal marshals. Lucy's expulsion was rescinded in 1980 and she graduated with a master's degree in 1992. Hood dropped out after two months but
received his PhD in philosophy from UA in 1997. Malone stayed in school and
graduated. Today, the plaza outside of the building Wallace stood to block
their entrance bears the names of Malone and Hood and the clock tower in the
plaza is named for Lucy.

Even if the university isn’t the main pillar economically,
it certainly is culturally. Whether it’s the museums or the nightlife on The
Strip or downtown, going out in Tuscaloosa usually has something to do with UA.
And like any good city in the South, it usually has something to do with the
football team. Not only is the university dominated by football, the entire
town is.
Nickname – Crimson Tide. One of the most unique nicknames,
not just in college athletics but all of sports, has a bit of an unclear
origin. Early accounts of Alabama football referred to the team with the
imaginative “Varsity,” or the “Crimson White” in reference to the team’s
colors. The first popular nickname was the “Thin Red Line,” which was used
until 1906. Then, in 1907, an underdog Alabama team fought to a muddy 6-6 tie
against rival Auburn (incredibly the last time the two teams would play for 41
years). Hugh Roberts, sports editor at the Birmingham
Age-Herald was so impressed he coined the “Crimson Tide” name. The name was
further popularized by former sports editor of the Birmingham News, Zipp Newman. What a crazy time
that was – not because guys were named “Zipp,” but because newspapers actually
had influence on society.
The nickname is so unique, it’s actually made numerous
appearances in popular culture. And this isn’t like the coincidental character names that Michigan can cling to. The movie Crimson Tide, starring Denzel Washington and Gene Hackman took the name straight
from the football team. Steely Dan’s famous line of “They call Alabama the
Crimson Tide” from their song Deacon Blues might not make much sense, but should serve as a point of pride for
UA fans. The name has also been referenced in some country music songs that
Know Your Foe has no familiarity with.
Mascot – Big Al, the elephant. Now why would the Crimson
Tide have an elephant as a mascot? It goes back to 1930, that time when
newspapers held sway over the nation. In early October, the Tide (who won the national championship) took on Ole Miss. Sports writer Everett Strupper of the Atlanta Journal wrote a story about the game that quoted a fan yelling
“Hold your horses, the elephants are coming” right as the Tide team ran on the
field. Strupper and other writers of the time would then refer to the Tide
linemen as “Red Elephants.”
The costumed mascot didn’t appear until student Melford
Espey, Jr. wore an elephant head to games in the early 1960s. Espey became a
university administrator (apparently elephant head wearing was a job
requirement) and in the 1970s was instrumental in the mascot’s official debut
in the 1979 Sugar Bowl. The current roster of Big Als consists of five students, including one female. According to his appearance policy,
Big Al doesn’t accept tips, though it’ll cost you $400 to have him show up for
an hour at your wedding or bar mitzvah.

Alabama is one of eight Division
I-A FBS schools to include crimson among their colors, and one of
three to pair it with white (along with Utah and New Mexico State). The colors
have been associated with the school for at least 120 years and even the campus
newspaper (the Crimson White) takes
its name from the school colors. Some might say Crimson White would be a good euphemism for redneck. KYF wouldn't do that, though.
Logo/Helmet – The crimson helmet
with white numerals and grey facemask has been a staple of college football for over 50 years with almost no change. In the 1960s and in 1983 and ’84, the team
wore white helmets with crimson numerals for some games but for pretty much
ever since the Crimson Tide abandoned leather helmets, things haven’t changed.
And KYF thinks that’s great in this case. Not only will two of the winningest
football programs take the field in Dallas on Saturday night, but so will two
of the best looking helmets in football.

Fight song – Yea, Alabama. This fight song doesn’t get mentioned with The
Victors or the Notre Dame Victory
March, but Yea, Alabama belongs
in that second tier of great college football fight songs. Most Michigan fans,
and most football fans outside of the South, might not associate the tune with the Crimson Tide, though they are probably familiar with it. And while
most college football fans know at least some of the lyrics to great fight
songs like On, Wisconsin, Fight On, and
Boomer Sooner, Yea, Alabama’s lyrics are unknown to most everyone who
doesn’t wear houndstooth underwear.
And there’s a good reason why – they’re laughably anachronistic. They mention a
school that ‘Bama hasn’t played in 28 years, and a bowl game that the Tide
hasn’t played in since 1946. And the whole mention of “watery grave” makes KYF
a tad uncomfortable.
Yea, Alabama! Drown 'em Tide!
Every 'Bama man's behind you;
Hit your stride!
Go teach the Bulldogs to behave,
Send the Yellow Jackets to a watery grave!
And if a man starts to weaken,
That's a shame!
For 'Bama's pluck and grit
Have writ her name in crimson flame!
Fight on, fight on, fight on, men!
Remember the Rose Bowl we'll win then!
Go, roll to victory,
Hit your stride,
You're Dixie's football pride, Crimson Tide!
The song now ends with a “Roll Tide, Roll Tide” chant, much
like how “Go Blue” often follows The
Victors. As a matter of fact, both phrases serve as greetings to strangers
across the world who are wearing their team’s paraphernalia.

Hey Vols!
Hey Vols!
Hey Vols!
We just beat the hell out of you!
Rammer Jammer, Yellowhammer, gave 'em hell, Alabama!
It’s typically only played once or twice after the game, but it was also played before games with the lyrics changing to
“We’re gonna beat the hell out of you.” But in the early 2000s the university
felt it was too taunting in nature and had the band stop playing it. After
heavy criticism the university relented as long as it was only played after the
game. The lyrics originate from a former student newspaper, The Rammer Jammer, and the state bird,
the yellowhammer. The title of the song was also the title of the
excellent 2004 book by Warren St. John, which EVERY college football fan should read. Seriously, go buy it now. KYF will wait.
Both songs are played by the
330-member “Million Dollar Band.” The name dates back to 1922 when the band had
to raise funds to be able to travel to a game at Georgia Tech. Thankfully, with
all the money in college football today, that would never happen. Following the game, a 33-7 defeat to the Yellow Jackets, an Alabama alumnus,
W.C. Pickens, was asked "[...] what do you have at Alabama?" by an
Atlanta-based sportswriter. Pickens replied only, "A million dollar
band."
Academics – According to the most
recent U. S. News ranking of America's Best Colleges, Alabama is a
solid, if unspectacular 75th, which, ties them with seven schools, including
the Big Ten’s Indiana, and Michigan lookalike, Delaware. This ranking would put
them near the bottom of the Big Ten, ahead of only Nebraska (#101), but they’re
ranked 5th in the 14-team Southeast Conference, and most importantly seven
spots ahead of rival Auburn.
Athletics – Alabama has been a member of the Southeast
Conference since it's founding in 1932. The school offers 21 varsity sports
(Michigan has 27). Other than in football, athletic success has been surprisingly
modest in Tuscaloosa. The men's basketball team has never made a Final Four,
with an Elite Eight in 2004 representing the furthest advancement. UA has sent
24 players to the NBA, led by seven-time champion Robert Horry, all-around good
guy Antonio McDyess, and ne'er-do-well Latrell Spreewell. Alabama has never won
a national title in any men's sport other than football. They have won six
women's gymnastics titles, and are the current national champions in women's
golf and women's softball (beating Michigan in the Softball World Series).

Famous alums – Even without including the fictional Forrest
Gump, the list of alumni from Alabama is pretty decent. It includes Forrest Gump author Winston Groom,
writer and journalist Gay Talese, actor Jim Nabors, actress Sela Ward, and
director of many Seinfeld episodes,
Tom Cherones.
Longtime baseball announcer Mel Allen is a 'Bama alum along
with college football guy Rece Davis, and MSNBC host Joe Scarborough. And KYF is
deeply indebted to one Alabama alum in particular, Jimmy Wales, the co-founder
of Wikipedia.
Thanks, Jimmy!
There are, of course, a ton of football players, including
seven hall of famers: John Hannah, Don Hutson, Joe Namath, Ozzie Newsome, Bart
Starr, Dwight Stephenson, and Derrick Thomas.
The list also includes plenty of local politicians, longtime
Supreme Court justice Hugo Black, and former governor and presidential
candidate (and neer-do-well) George Wallace, but, alas, no U.S. Presidents.
The Game – Wow, what a way to start things off, facing the
national champions on a neutral field. This is the game of the week and could
go a long way to determine who plays for that cheap-looking crystal football at
the end of the season. 'Bama lost a ton of talent to the NFL, but the Nick
Saban recruiting machine (scholarship limits? We don't need no stinkin'
scholarship limits!) just rolls on. And if Saban's the coach, you know this
team is going to be tough on defense. But the Tide don't have Denard Robinson,
who saw the Michigan program through the darkest of days and is ready to cement his
mark as one of the greatest Wolverines ever. It will be a lot of work, but Denard
and the defense will put Michigan in the national championship conversation
before we even get to Labor Day.
MICHIGAN - 20
ALABAMA - 13